I would like to provide you all with a cautionary tale.
 
Now how many of you reading this take photographs? 

No, please put your hands down because this isn’t school and I can’t actually see them.
 
Seriously, so many people take photographs now, nearly everyone has a camera in their pocket since the smart phone arrived. Whether you are taking selfies, photos of friends or family, at special events, days out or just for fun, you need to do something, and it is something many of us do less and less of……. primarily I think because so many people take photos now and it has become almost second nature to do so.

So what is it you need to do I hear you ask, metaphorically speaking that is, because like the hands I can’t actually hear you either.

Sorry I digress, what you need to do is give your photographs a meaningful title. Now I am not saying you have to do this for every single photo you take, but if you think it’s an important photo, then add a title or create a folder with a meaningful title and put your important photographs in it. Better still, pop down to your local superstore or chemist etc. and get them printed, then you can write the details on the back.

What is an important photo?

An important photo is anything you think is important, as mentioned above days out etc.

Why give it a meaningful title?

Because our memories fade and recalling details becomes impossible. Take this further, your great grandchildren are looking at photos with their parents and they are asking “who is that man mum and where was he when the photo was taken”?
 
Do you see what I am trying to say? 

If for example you have gone on a day out to the Zoo and taken lots of pictures, create a folder. Title the folder the name of the Zoo and the date you were there e.g. London Zoo 13-08-2015. Now I would suggest that you also give the photos of people a title, think about those future relatives and give full names as titles e.g. Leonard Pitcher. You could even add their relationship i.e. Brother and again add the date.

Print them why?

Do you remember Floppy Disks? For anybody that doesn’t it was sort of the USB Stick of its time. Computers don’t have floppy drives now and that’s the point! Technology moves so fast now, that today’s storage will not be the storage of the future and who knows when it will become redundant. The only way to ensure that those relatives of the future can see your photos, is to print them, write all the information we have discussed on the back and keep them safe.
 
For my Mum and Dad and almost definitely their Mums and Dads, “safe” would have been boxes and tins e.g. Shoe boxes, Quality Street tins
(obviously other brands of sweet tins are available).

Where you decide to safely store them I leave up to you.

If you already have a collection of printed photos, get them out. Not only will they bring a nostalgic smile as you look at them, you can also check there is information on them.

I hope that this makes you think and I hope that you also find this useful.

When I started I said this was a cautionary tale and it is.
 
I lost my father at Easter this year. The family are now left with photos, of presumed relatives that were taken over the years, and we have no idea who they are. Sadly the photos have no information on them and there is now no one left to ask who they were.

By Gill Pitcher

Saturday 1st August 2015

It was our pleasure to be asked to be involved in such a worthwhile cause, and of course a great excuse to buy a dress!!!!!
 
I must say I even impressed myself with my flexibility and agility in a full length cocktail dress and heels taking photographs. Yes I assist with all aspects of the business, love any opportunity to get my camera out and also write the odd blog.
  
Great Ormond Street Hospital provides specialised care for children and immeasurable support for parents and families. The star of the evening was 5 year old Harry who loved his photograph being taken.

Harrys mum Coleen gave a heartfelt speech supported by husband Stuart. Coleen shared their experience and the amazing support and care received. There was not a dry eye in the house.

It was clear why Harry’s parents and wider family were hosting this Charity evening.

Glamour was oozing from all the ladies in their beautiful dresses and yes, you guys looked very smart too in tuxedos, suits and bow ties. Let’s not forget the children too in sparkles, frills and tiaras.

A real sense of family was felt throughout the evening as the children were considered and included where possible. The very well behaved children helped Jason with selling the raffle tickets and Harry and friends picked the tickets in the draw.

The children kept us on our toes and were very keen to have their photographs taken. 

The secret auction, raffle, face painting, singing by Keenan and the DJ made the evening fun and enjoyable for all. Children and adults alike had beautiful and creative designs put on their faces, arms, neck, legs and shoulders by the incredibly talented Face painting duo Dawn and Pete. 

Everyone dug deep into their pockets and raised an amazing £1050.00 from the raffle alone. As of today 06/08/15 the total stands at £1500.00.

Generous donations from so many local businesses ranged from meals to manicures, a new front door to days out, greyhound race night, haircuts to hampers, recording session in a music studio to a photo shoot from ourselves.

What better opportunity to have your picture taken all glammed up as a reminder of the evening? Guests required little or no encouragement and photographs were taken throughout but especially as guests were arriving, during the speeches and the raffle.

A special mention to: 
Keenan and Colleen from Phoebes Hair Salon https://www.facebook.com/pages/Phoebes-Hair-Salon/1430186087275354
Stuart from RS Cars London
http://www.rscarslondon.co.uk/
Mark the DJ from Essex DJ Services
djmarkw@gmail.com
Dawn and Pete Mason from Nutty Creations
nuttybcreations@hotmail.co.uk
Blakes Golf Club North Weald
http://www.blakesevents.com/